Allegro

Executive Board Minutes

February 26, 2002 -- March 5, 2002

Volume CII, No. 5May, 2002

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2002

Meeting called to order at 11:40 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Hafemeister, Executive Board members Blumenthal, Crow, Landolfi, Reynolds, Rohdin, Shankin and Weiss, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison, Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens.

Recording Vice-President Price distributed the minutes of Feb. 19, 2002.

Discussion continued from the previous meeting on union policy regarding the enforcement of fines levied by the Trial or Executive boards. Legal counsel Leonard Leibowitz present for the discussion. He explained how unions have been affected by the U.S. Supreme Court decision known as Beck vs. CWA. (See Feb. 19 minutes.)

Weiss excused at 1:00 p.m.

Meeting recessed at 1:10 p.m.

Meeting resumed at 2:15 p.m.

Present: Moriarity, Price, Hafemeister, Blumenthal, Landolfi, Reynolds, Rohdin, Shankin, Bogert, Dennison.

Assistant Supervisor of National Contracts Schaffner appeared before the board, along with Senior Business Reps Rodriguez and Sheldon and Business Rep Agdern, to report on the recently-concluded AFM Film negotiations held in Los Angeles. He informed the board that this agreement is subject to ratification by members who work in theatrical film and television film recording. Local 802 will hold meetings with the Recording Musicians’ Association and other recording musicians to explain and discuss the agreement. Schaffner, Rodriguez, Sheldon and Agdern excused.

Financial Vice-President Hafemeister advised the board that when the Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) performed on its recent tour in Houston, Secretary of Local 65-699 and AFM International Executive Board member Bob McGrew was instrumental in organizing a leafleting campaign to inform the public that there was no live music for the performances. The leaflet also noted that the DTH owed approximately $40,000 for musicians’ pension, health benefits and union work dues. Hafemeister recommended that, as a gesture of appreciation for McGrew’s efforts on our behalf, Local 802 purchase two theatre tickets, for a total of $200, for his use during his next visit to New York City for the International Executive Board meeting. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the purchase of two tickets.

Hafemeister submitted a request from the Long Island Philharmonic for permission to use public service scale for several school concerts that will adhere to Music Performance Trust Funds guidelines. Discussion held with regard to the outstanding Long Island Philharmonic Music Performance Trust Funds debt. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the purchase of two tickets at $200, for a total of $400, to the NYC Central Labor Council dinner-dance on March 9.

Meeting adjourned at 3:00 p.m. to attend the regularly scheduled membership meeting.


TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2002

Meeting called to order at 11:25 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Hafemeister, Executive Board members Blumenthal, Crow, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Reynolds, Rohdin and Shankin, Assistant to the President Dennison, Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens.

Feb. 19 minutes unanimously approved as amended.

Discussion held on leaves of absence requested by members for Broadway shows.

President Moriarity reported on negotiations with the Brooklyn Philharmonic, including the possibility that this orchestra may be eligible to receive a wage reimbursement grant from the Consortium for Worker Education. Discussion held on the freelance orchestras’ negotiations and financial conditions.

Moriarity reported on the status of the AFM Pamphlet B negotiations and indicated that a further meeting was to be held on March 6.

Moriarity reported on Local 802’s bill-paying process, including the checks and balances in effect. It had been discovered that a substantial sum, in excess of $3,000, had been charged to the local for personal calls to a foreign country over a period of several months. The staff member responsible had been discharged and recovery of the money would be pursued. All telephone calls would be more closely scrutinized and monitored to ensure that usage is limited to union business.

Moriarity submitted a request from film producer Ann Marie Bryan to use footage in the Performing Arts Library archives from a past Broadway show, Runaways, to make a documentary film entitled On and Off Stage: The Bruce Hilbok Story. The film would use footage only of deceased actor and director Bruce Hilbok. Discussion held. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request subject to an initial payment of $250 to the Emergency Relief Fund and $500 for any subsequent use in any commercial venue.

Motion made and carried unanimously to contribute $250 from TEMPO802 to NYS Senator Tom Duane, payable to “Tom Duane for Senate.”

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve a delayed wage increase for a staff member.

Motion made and carried unanimously to contribute $250 from TEMPO802 to Catherine Nolan, chair of the NYS Assembly Labor Committee, payable to “Friends of Catherine Nolan.”

Price submitted a letter of thanks from NYC Councilmember Bill de Blasio for Local 802’s financial support of his candidacy in the November 2001 election.

Price submitted a request to attend an April 6 conference in Baltimore, Md., on “Aging and The Performing Artist: Responses to the Maturing Process.” This conference will be presented by the Performing Arts Medicine Committee of MedChi (the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of the Maryland State Medical Society). All expenses of transportation and per diem would be submitted and validated by voucher. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Senior Business Rep Jackson appeared before the board to report that the Lincoln Center Jazz contract had been ratified by the bargaining unit. Jackson reported on her efforts to obtain signed work dues authorization cards from the bargaining unit. Discussion held on a request for a waiver of past work dues owed. Motion made and carried unanimously to waive the payment of past work dues owed if the musicians sign dues authorization cards and keep current in payment, with credit given to musicians who have paid in the past.

Meeting recessed at 1:05 p.m.

Meeting resumed at 2:15 p.m.

Present: Moriarity, Price, Blumenthal, Crow, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Rohdin, Dennison, Owens.

Senior Business Rep Donovan appeared before the board to present a non-commercial reading agreement with Music-Theatre Group, Inc. for the reading production of a show entitled Fangs at CUNY’s Aaron Davis Hall. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Donovan submitted an agreement with NYCGNO LLC, c/o Brent Peek Productions, for the production of Menopause the Musical being performed at Theatre Four in NYC. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Donovan submitted an agreement with Dodger Productions, Inc., for the reading of Dracula at Atelier Rehearsal Studio in NYC. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Discussion held on Dodger Productions’ non-union travelling production of The Music Man.

Donovan excused.

Legislative Director Beaudoin appeared before the board to report on and discuss redistricting and other legislative matters now pending in Albany and New York City. She also recommended the union’s financial support for Jose Peralta, Democratic candidate for NY State Assembly. Motion made and carried unanimously to contribute $500 from TEMPO802 to a reception for Jose Peralta. Beaudoin excused.

Moriarity advised the board that he had faxed a letter to the producers of the new musical Hairspray, asking for additional information regarding their request for special situation status. They had not yet answered.

Motion made and carried unanimously to purchase two tickets, for a total of $250, to the Pacific Harmony Festival. This is a fund raising event to benefit OPUS 118, which promotes quality music education in inner-city public schools.

Moriarity reported that he had been invited to attend a gala reception and screening in Los Angeles of the motion picture “E.T.” on the occasion of its 20th anniversary. Composer John Williams will conduct an orchestra of 100 musicians performing the film score in coordination with the screening of the picture. Moriarity stressed the positive benefit of having a Local 802 presence at this event. He will inform the board of the costs of transportation and expenses.

Discussion held on an e-mail received from a member who expressed concerns about the union’s lack of public relations initiatives and relations with the press.

Meeting adjourned at 3:15 p.m.